Vanilla-flavored compositions and delivery systems therefor

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions and comestibles that are vanilla-flavored but with a contributory mint flavor. More specifically, the compositions of the present invention have a characterizing vanilla flavor in combination with breath-freshening components and optionally cooling agents. In some embodiments, the compositions may include a vanilla flavor composition which includes vanilla flavor and vanillin or its derivatives and a mint oil composition.

1 . A composition comprising: 
 at least one characterizing vanilla flavor; and    at least one contributory mint flavor.    
   
   
       2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said characterizing vanilla flavor is selected from the group consisting of: vanillin; ethyl vanillin; furaneol; delta decalactone; delta dodecalactone; methylcyclopentenolone hydrate; maple furanone; ethyl maltol; diacetyl; furfuraldehyde; butyric acid; ethyl butyrate; ethyl propionate; heliotropine; butyl butyryl lactate; benzaldehyde; lemon oil; benzodihydropyrone; anisic aldehyde; methyl thiobutyrate in alcohol; ethanol; medium chain tryglycerides; and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       3 . A composition comprising: 
 at least two vanilla flavor components and at least one mint oil;    wherein said vanilla flavor components are present in amounts sufficient to provide the perception of vanilla as the characterizing flavor; and    said mint oil is present in amounts sufficient to provide the perception of mint as a contributory flavor.    
   
   
       4 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein said vanilla flavor components are present in amounts of about 3% to about 98% by weight of said composition.  
   
   
       5 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein said mint oil is present in amounts of about 2% to about 80% by weight of said composition.  
   
   
       6 . A composition comprising: 
 at least two vanillin-containing components; and    at least one mint oil.    
   
   
       7 . A composition comprising: 
 a vanilla flavor composition comprising vanilla flavor and vanillin or its derivatives; and    a mint oil composition comprising a sweet mint oil.    
   
   
       8 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein said sweet mint oil is selected from the group consisting of:  mentha piperita  mint oil;  mentha arvensis  mint oil;  mentha spicata  mint oil;  mentha cardiaca  mint oil; rose mitcham mint oil; corn mint oil; Japanese peppermint oil; Chinese peppermint oil; and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       9 . A composition comprising: 
 a vanilla flavor composition comprising vanilla flavor and vanillin or its derivatives; and    a mint composition comprising a mint oil selected from the group consisting of sweet mint oil; cool mint oil; and combinations thereof.    
   
   
       10 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein said sweet mint oil is selected from the group consisting of:  mentha piperita  mint oil;  mentha arvensis  mint oil;  mentha spicata  mint oil;  mentha cardiaca  mint oil; rose mitcham mint oil; corn mint oil; Japanese peppermint oil; Chinese peppermint oil; and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       11 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein said cool mint oil is selected from the group consisting of: crystal white mint oil; a blend of a sweet mint oil and crystal white mint oil; a blend of a sweet mint oil and one or more cooling agents; a blend of a sweet mint oil, crystal white mint oil and one or more cooling agents; and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       12 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein said sweet mint oil is selected from the group consisting of:  mentha piperita  mint oil;  mentha arvensis  mint oil;  mentha spicata  mint oil;  mentha cardiaca  mint oil; rose mitcham mint oil; corn mint oil; Japanese peppermint oil; Chinese peppermint oil; and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       13 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein said cooling agent is selected from the group consisting of: menthol, xylitol, erythritol, menthane, menthone, ketals, menthone ketals, menthone glycerol ketals, substituted p-menthanes, acyclic carboxamides, substituted cyclohexanamides, substituted cyclohaxane carboxamides, substituted ureas and sulfonamides, substituted menthanols, hydroxymethyl and hydroxymethyl derivatives of p-menthane, 2-mercapto-cyclo-decanone, 2-isoprpanyl-5-methylcyclohexanol, hydroxycarboxylic acids with 2-6 carbon atoms, cyclohexanamides, menthyl acetate, menthyl lactate, methyl salicylate, N,2,3-trimethyl-2-isopropyl butanamide, N-ethyl-p-menthane-3-carboxamide, menthyl succinate, 3,1-menthoxypropane1,2-diol, glutarate esters, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       14 . A composition comprising: 
 a particulate composition comprising vanillin and menthol; and    a liquid composition comprising vanilla flavor and mint oil.    
   
   
       15 . The composition of  claim 14 , wherein said mint oil is selected from the group consisting of sweet mint oil; cool mint oil; and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       16 . The composition of  claim 14 , wherein said particulate composition is in a form selected from the group consisting of: crystalline; powdered; and encapsulated.  
   
   
       17 . A composition comprising: 
 an initial-impact flavor component comprising vanillin or its derivatives and menthol; and    a long-lasting flavor component comprising vanilla flavor and mint oil.    
   
   
       18 . A composition comprising: 
 a predominant amount of a mint oil composition; and    a vanilla flavor composition;    wherein said composition has a characterizing flavor and a contributory flavor, said characterizing flavor comprising vanilla flavor and said contributory flavor comprising mint flavor.    
   
   
       19 . A composition comprising: 
 a characterizing flavor comprising vanilla flavor; and    a breath-freshening composition comprising a mint oil and optionally a sensate component.    
   
   
       20 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein said sensate component comprises a cooling agent.  
   
   
       21 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein said cooling agent is selected from the group consisting of: menthol, xylitol, erythritol, menthane, menthone, ketals, menthone ketals, menthone glycerol ketals, substituted p-menthanes, acyclic carboxamides, substituted cyclohexanamides, substituted cyclohaxane carboxamides, substituted ureas and sulfonamides, substituted menthanols, hydroxymethyl and hydroxymethyl derivatives of p-menthane, 2-mercapto-cyclo-decanone, 2-isoprpanyl-5-methylcyclohexanol, hydroxycarboxylic acids with 2-6 carbon atoms, cyclohexanamides, menthyl acetate, menthyl lactate, methyl salicylate, N,2,3-trimethyl-2-isopropyl butanamide, N-ethyl-p-menthane-3-carboxamide, menthyl succinate, 3,1-menthoxypropane1,2-diol, glutarate esters, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       22 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein said sensate component comprises a warming agent.  
   
   
       23 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein said sensate comprises a tingling agent.  
   
   
       24 . A composition comprising: 
 a flavor oil composition comprising vanilla flavor oil and sweet mint oil, wherein said flavor oil composition is substantially soluble in gum base polymers; and    a particulate composition comprising vanillin or its derivatives and menthol, wherein said particulate composition is less soluble in gum base than said flavor oil composition.    
   
   
       25 . The composition of  claim 24 , wherein said particulate composition is in a form selected from the group consisting of: crystalline; powdered; and encapsulated.  
   
   
       26 . A composition comprising: 
 a vanilla flavor composition having at least one of the following properties: a molecular weight of about 150-200; and a specific gravity of about 0.99-1.0; and    a mint flavor composition having at least one of the following properties: a molecular weight of about 150-260; a specific gravity of about 0.88-0.91; a flash point of above about 130° F.; and a head fraction content of less than about 13%.    
   
   
       27 . A composition comprising: 
 vanillin or its derivatives;    menthol;    a vanilla flavor oil; and    at least one mint flavor comprising a sweet mint oil and a cool mint oil, said cool mint oil being selected from the group consisting of: crystal white mint oil; a blend of a sweet mint oil and crystal white mint oil; a blend of a sweet mint oil and one or more cooling agents; a blend of a sweet mint oil, crystal white mint oil and one or more cooling agents; and combinations thereof.    
   
   
       28 . A comestible comprising: 
 (a) an oral delivery system; and    (b) a vanilla-flavored composition comprising: 
 (i) at least one characterizing vanilla flavor; and  
 (ii) at least one contributory mint flavor.  
   
   
   
       29 . A chewing gum composition comprising: 
 (a) a gum base; and    (b) a vanilla-flavored composition comprising: 
 (i) at least one characterizing vanilla flavor; and  
 (ii) at least one contributory mint flavor.  
   
   
   
       30 . (canceled)  
   
   
       31 . (canceled)  
   
   
       32 . A composition comprising: 
 a vanilla flavor composition which provides a smooth perception; and    a mint flavor composition which provides a refreshment perception.    
   
   
       33 . (canceled)  
   
   
       34 . A pellet gum comprising: 
 (a) a hard coating comprising a polyol and a first vanilla-flavored composition, said first vanilla-flavored composition comprising: 
 (i) at least one characterizing vanilla flavor; and  
 (ii) at least one contributory mint flavor; and  
   (b) a gum core composition comprising a gum base and a second vanilla-flavored composition, said second vanilla-flavored composition comprising: 
 (i) at least one characterizing vanilla flavor; and  
 (ii) at least one contributory mint flavor.  
   
   
   
       35 . The pellet gum of  claim 34 , wherein said first vanilla-flavored composition and said second vanilla-flavored composition are the same.  
   
   
       36 . The pellet gum of  claim 34 , wherein said first vanilla-flavored composition and said second vanilla-flavored composition are the different.